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Loneliness

Most people will feel lonely at some point in their lives. It’s a deeply personal experience that - in most cases - will thankfully pass. But for a growing number of people, particularly those in later life, loneliness can define their lives and have a significant impact on their wellbeing.

Loneliness: in figures
3.6 million
... older people in the UK live alone, of whom over 2 million are aged 75+.		 1.9 million
... older people often feel ignored or invisible.		 15 cigarettes
Loneliness can be as harmful for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

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Contact your local Age UK for help and support.

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What causes loneliness?

We often feel lonely when we feel we don't have strong social relationships or are unhappy with the ones we have.

There have been several studies that have identified a range of factors associated with being lonely in older age. These factors include:

  • social networks (living alone, being widowed or divorced, a lack of contact with friends and family and limited opportunities to participate in social occasions)
  • health (poor health, limited mobility, social care needs or cognitive and sensory impairment)
  • individual characteristics (age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, low income, retirement)
  • neighbourhood characteristics (structures of buildings and streets, provision of local amenities, territorial boundaries, area reputation, neighbourliness, material deprivation of area of residence).

Loneliness is associated with depression, sleep problems, impaired cognitive health, heightened vascular resistance, hypertension, psychological stress and mental health problems.

Find out more detailed information about loneliness

Meet Len and Ivor

92-year-old Len got in touch with his local Age UK to enquire about their befriending services and is now visited by volunteer befriender Ivor.

In this video, Len and Ivor talk about their growing friendship, and how Age UK's befriending service has made a difference.

They spend an hour each week chatting about a range of topics that interest them, and have developed a strong friendship.

How Age UK helps

For more information call the Age UK Advice Line on 0800 678 1602.
We’re open 8am to 7pm, every day of the year.

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